Redcliff's Rick Wagenaar clinched Saturday's super comp class in the NHRA National Open, hosted at the Medicine Hat Drag Racing Association strip.--SUBMITTED PHOTO BERNIE FREY
Local drivers did well to defend home turf with coveted Wally trophies up for grabs in the NHRA National Open this past weekend at the Medicine Hat Drag Racing Association strip.
Redcliff’s Rick Wagenaar won Saturday’s super comp event by defeating Vegreville’s Grant Durie, while Medicine Hat’s Dave Toth won the motorcycles and sleds event by besting Airdrie’s Steve Campbell.
Ryan Valk edged out fellow Hatter Teagan Thorpe to win Saturday’s sportsman class, Medicine Hat’s Darian Dopp defeated Dunmore’s Justus Schaan to win the junior street event and fellow Hatter Todd Fleck settled for runner up against Red Deer’s McKenna Bold in the super pro event.
On Sunday, Kiandra Gaetz won the junior thunder class by defeating fellow Hat product Gray Schaan, while Justus Schaan exacted some revenge on Dopp by defeating him in the final to win the junior street event.
In Sunday’s motorcycles and sleds event it was the Hat’s Zach Toth who rallied for the Wally over Red Deer’s Scott Richardson, while Medicine Hat’s Daryl Baker settled for runner up in the super comp class against winner Len Mayer, of Vegreville.
Saturday also featured Saskatoon’s Rich Harder winning the pro class, while Regina’s Bill Cawsey took top spot in the super gas event, Brandon’s Darren Pearce won in super street, Saskatoon’s Sheldon Erfle finished atop the pack in the ST/SST combo class and Pilot Butte’s Shawn Lachambre won in the top drag/top sports event.
Rounding out Saturday’s events, Calgary’s Calum Kestner won the junior lightning event and High River’s Cole Caron took top spot in junior thunder.
Sunday’s action also included Brooks’ Jason Kendel taking top spot in super street, while Leduc County’s Dave Senio won the super pro class, Harder finished first in the pro division, Airdrie’s Loren Buzunis won the sportsman event, Mayer clinched the super comp victory, Kamloops’ Dave Stobbe took first in super gas, Erfle repeated in the ST/SST combo class and Sherwood Park’s Trevor Ritchie won the top drag/top sports event.
MHDRA’s non-NHRA National Open gambler races were carried over from Friday and held Saturday. Maple Creek’s Kindi Opsal took top spot in the junior gamblers event, while Rosetown’s Janssen Aten won the non-electronic gamblers class.
